US wants 'urgent' Iranian steps in nuclear talks

The United States called on Iran today to take "urgent practical steps" to build confidence during nuclear talks with world powers, and the European Union said Tehran must suspend sensitive atomic activities.

"We remain concerned by Iran's persistent failure to comply with its nonproliferation obligations," US envoy Robert Wood told an international nuclear conference in Vienna, attended also by Iran.

"We seek a sustained process that produces concrete results, and call on Iran to take urgent practical steps to build confidence and lead to compliance with all its international obligations," Wood added.

At the same meeting, the 27-nation European Union said in a joint statement that Iran "must suspend" its uranium enrichment activities, something Tehran has repeatedly refused to do.

Wood said: "We are concerned that Iran has not agreed to grant the IAEA access to all relevant sites, information, documents and persons necessary to resolve questions about its nuclear program."

"We stress the urgent need for Iran to reach agreement with the IAEA on a structured approach ... to resolve all outstanding issues," Wood, acting head of the US mission to the Vienna-based IAEA, added.